What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is to provide students an opportunity to experience success, while motivating students to further their interests and skills through multiple modalities and interactive resources. I will use multiple approaches to help meet the needs of all my students.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help a student become an independent learner by introducing and encouraging the practice of referencing a toolbox of resources.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I will help a student stay motivated by creating opportunities to experience success, and by using engaging and interactive instructional and practice materials.

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

I will introduce the concept in multiple ways and by using familiar, real life scenarios.

What might you do in a typical first session with a student?

In the first session I would spend a little time getting to know the student and finding out what the student needs the most support with. If the student is in a math class I will look through their schedule and make sure to address topics in the next sessions. If the student is not in a math class then I will do a couple practice assessments to get to know where the student is at with concepts and skills.

What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?

A few strategies that I find helpful are: Asking questions that assess students' knowledge at a deeper level (“why” and “how” questions.) Make small chat about their math class and their teacher (find out their attitude toward math.) Ask what they are hoping to get out of our tutoring sessions.

How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?

I use a combination of a fun sense of humor, real-world application problems, hands-on and minds-on activities, and additional online resources and applications (not just worksheets and book work).

What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?

I ask a lot of how and why questions. I ask students to explain to me how they reach their answers. I also ask other questions that force the student to apply the material to new situations.

How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?

I put students in positions where they can be successful. If they are struggling, I will find some practical and skilled questions that I know they can do. I also use encouraging and supportive language.